How Delhi Police shifted Sonam Wangchuk to hospital on Saturday morning: Hit after hit | Today’s news

Chaos erupted at Jantar Mantar early on Saturday when a team of plainclothes Delhi Police entered the protest site through a back gate and shifted Sonam Wangchuk to a government hospital after his condition deteriorated.

Saturday marked the 21st day of Wangchuk’s hunger strike at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET and other public examinations.

Read also | Sonam Wangchuk News LIVE: Woman throws ink at Abhijeet Dipke at Jantar Mantar

According to eyewitnesses, around 6:45 a.m. several policemen carrying a large white curtain climbed onto the stage. They used a sheet to shield the stage from public view before lifting Wangchuk in what his supporters described as a violent removal. At the same time, another group of policemen were holding back supporters who were trying to approach the stage.

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Sonam Wangchuk was admitted to the hospital due to her deteriorating health on the directions of the Delhi High Court and on expert medical advice after going on a hunger strike for 21 days.

The early morning police action was prompted by orders from police headquarters around 1:30 a.m. to ensure Wangchuk underwent a medical examination and was admitted to hospital after his health deteriorated.

Police entered the protest site using a large white curtain to shield the operation from public view and forcibly lifted Wangchuk amid attempts by supporters to approach the stage.

Police justified the transfer by saying it was done in compliance with a Supreme Court order and a necessary medical procedure necessitated by Wangchuk’s serious health problem.

Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike aims to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in NEET and other public examinations.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was not present at the venue as party spokesperson Saurav Das was returning to Delhi from Rajasthan.

“I was returning from Rajasthan. I was told that Sonamji was forcibly removed by the city police who covered the stage with a curtain. They used strong arm tactics. They beat up some protesters. Now they have stopped people from entering the venue,” CJP spokesperson Saurav Das told reporters after Sonam’s removal.

Morning event

Senior police officers received instructions from the police headquarters at around 1.30am to ensure that Wangchuk underwent a medical examination and was admitted to a hospital, news agency PTI reported.

At 3 a.m. on Saturday, all personnel of the New Delhi district police gathered at the site for what they were told was a security drill in Parliament ahead of the monsoon session, a report in the Indian Express said, citing sources. They were then taken to the Mandir Marg police station where they were informed that Wangchuk would be removed from Jantar Mantar within ’30 seconds,’ the report said.

Officers also discussed deploying network jammers around the protest site to prevent the circulation of videos during the operation, a source told PTI.

Around 5 am, senior officers gathered near Jantar Mantar for a final briefing. The New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police briefed about the deployment before the orders were executed.

As police covered the stage with a sheet before moving the activist to an ambulance waiting nearby. The letters were used to prevent CJP members and others from uploading and circulating videos of Wangchuk’s removal, a source told PTI.

The police do not have a permit for Monday’s march

Wangchuk and the CJP called on Parliament on July 20, the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament. The CJP has not yet sought permission for the Parliament march, Delhi Police sources were quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Read also | Viral Video: Sonam Wangchuk ‘Forcibly’ Picked Up; the wife issues a statement

While the CJP’s protest (not the hunger strike) began on June 20, Wangchuk has been on hunger strike since June 28.

Saturday’s early morning action was planned following the directions of the Delhi High Court and medical recommendations recommending Wangchuk’s hospitalization, Delhi Police said in a statement. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma told PTI that Wangchuk was transferred in compliance with the Supreme Court’s order after his health deteriorated.

“As per the directions of the Supreme Court and as per the medical conditions and medical recommendations, we shifted Sonam Wangchuk to the concerned government hospital which was a much needed medical intervention and under medical supervision,” he said.

Some Wangchuk supporters wondered what order the police were citing. Others said it was a court order that did not allow people to protest at Jantar Mantar without police permission. The Delhi Police allowed the CJP to stage a protest on June 20 till 5 am, but the party decided to continue the protests beyond the permitted time. Kumar reportedly reviewed the situation at the police headquarters on Friday.

New Delhi Police Commissioner – Anurag Kumar

Wangchuk’s transfer from Jantar Mantar came a day after the Union Home Ministry removed Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golchha and appointed Anurag Kumar in his place. Golchh’s untimely departure was reportedly related to handling the Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar.

During the removal of Wangchuk on Saturday morning, there was a brief ruckus during the operation, with police claiming that some of the protesters tried to obstruct the implementation of the Supreme Court’s directions.

Read also | Police action in Delhi against ‘black stain on democracy’ Sonam Wangchuk: Congress

After Sonam was taken to Safdarjung Hospital, security was beefed up in and around Jantar Mantar, across parts of the New Delhi district and also outside the hospital.

As per orders of Hon’ble High Court and on expert medical advice due to deteriorating health condition of Sh. Sonam Wangchuk, was taken to the hospital for basic medical care.

While Sonam is in the hospital, Dipke goes on hunger strike. A group of students, including PhD student Neha Bora of Jawaharlal Nehru University, continues their fast on the 21st day on Saturday.